June 13/97 23:01 pm - Canadians in the U.S., Letters From Italy, Dauphine

Posted by Editor on 06/13/97

News From Marc Morrison
In today's 5th stage (of the Dauphine Libere) Gord Fraser was 103 at 12 minutes and 25 seconds back. (Stage Results below)
Iouri Kachrine is taking Norco's Adam Walker (2nd at the Tour de White Rock road race and the top Canadian for the second consecutive season) to the Tour of the Rockies. Joining Walker will be Olympian Andreas Hestler (Rocky Mountain), Chris Sheppard (Haro) and Canada Cup Leader Bill Hurley (Schwinn). The July 17-20 Tour of the Rockies in Steamboat Springs, CO., is organized by former Coors Lite Cycling Team director Len Pettyjohn and boasts one of the largest purses on the international
mountain bike calendar.
Two Letters From Italy
National Team member David Gluzman is living and racin in Europe this season. He is sending us a regular diary of his experiences. Today there are two letters - the first is week old, since he didnÃ¢â‚¬Å¡t have access to a phone last week).
Buon giorno...
So here was what was told to me, "David, this is your race, and you can win this race" from Aldo. So this was the mind frame I came into this race, which was near Perugia (as usual), and was 110km on a 3 lap circuit with a big 4km climb to the finish.
But as things do happen around here, I'm never so lucky. For the first 75km, I was feeling rather well, even though the heat was hindering (35C). When I got into the main break, we all over took a right hand turn (which ironically was covered in gravel). I was in 3rd place, when I came down with another rider.
I was covered in rocks and dust when I got up. I fixed up my bike, and got rolling again. It's amazing what adrenaline does for you... I passed all the cars and the main pack in a matter of minutes, and then attacked off the front as soon as I caught up. Then I left by my own, and re-caught my own break (which I started), and attacked off them.
Then came the big climb, which I caught a few left over riders (that previously attacked when I crashed) and, attacked them (because Aldo was screaming "ATTACK tu es en forme!!" [you've got the condition], but he didn't realize I just crashed). By the time I reached about 8/10ths of the climb I was dead. No more adrenaline, no more energy, and now in much pain from my sustained injuries. Weeee...
Well I did manage to finish the race. I only finished in the main group of about 30 (170 started), even though after my crash I caught back up to the top 10, then tossed my cookies.
Interesting note on this race, was that Aldo made me race with a Radio. This was a first for me, but quite disappointing. I should have been able to talk with Aldo for the majority of the race, but someone else was on the same frequency, and screwed things up. It's pretty small and fits in a jersey pocket easily and weights about 500grams. But in reality, I could have done without it.
At this time I'm trying to recover from my crash, now a little more serious that I first thought. I just scraped up my legs real good, and my hips, and my arms. The road rash doesn't bother me, it's the fact that the muscles in my left arm are very week and hurt (like mad) when standing on the bars or even moving it (it hurts to use the mouse). I think I've bruised the muscles maybe... :(
Hopefully I'll be better for my race this Thursday in Downtown Florence. That is gonna be COOL! The race starts at 8pm, and is a points race style 22km criterium in the main streets of Florence. Not only that, but right after the PROS go off! Rockin!
Also, Friday I have a race on the Grand Prix circuit in Rimini. Same type of race but 30km or so. This will be great to improve my speed, since I haven't really had the chance to do much of this type of training (only mountains!). ;)
Well that's all 4 now..
David Gluzman
Good Day.
At the moment I am in a hotel about to start writing about Thursday night in Florence. Since I'm in a Hotel for the next 3 days, I have access to a telephone line all day, all the time; so this is GREAT (just for a change).
Sooo... Thursday June 12th, there was a big invitation only criterium in Downtown Florence. I've been waiting for this race quite anxiously for the past 3 weeks or so. The race itself was a 1.xkm circuit on cobbles, which was extremely bumpy (which didn't help my shoulder too much). One corner actually crossed the famous bridge with all the jewelry and military solders (really cool btw).
There was only 24 juniors at the start line at 8:30pm, and we were ready to race 15 laps with sprints every 2 laps. There was told to be over 15000 people watching (it was MOBBED), in which was a first for me.
So I ended up leading the full first lap with a tempo of over 50km/h, just to see how these juniors could corner. It ended up being that course was so bad that I hit the metal barriers twice with my shoulder, touched wheels a couple of times, and eventually crashed with 3 laps to go (while sitting in 3rd). I couldn't stand to sprint because my shoulder hurt to much from last weekend, plus the cobbles didn't help to much.
Hmm.. So the crash was pretty stupid, yet interesting how it developed. I was sitting 2nd coming into the last corner, when I see two DUMB juniors rounding it on the inside way too fast. They ended up going straight instead of turning, thus taking me OUT and another 6-8 riders. Once I was on the ground, I later got a punch in the face (which I now have a nice black eye)! Before I could even start retaliating the crowd took him back and made sure to get him away from me, because I was PISSED (you'd think so anyways)!
Anyways, this race was about the coolest thing I've ever done, except for crashing and getting punched in the eye. Later that evening I got to watch the pros race, in which Mario Chippolini won (I meet him before the start - COOL). Other pros such as, Ivan Gotti (Giro Winner), Konychev, Pulinikov, just to name a few. I also got to check out a bit of Florence (Firenze), which was simply amazing.
So I highly don't think I will be racing this Friday (on the Grand Prix circuit in Rimini), or either Sunday. Simply because I'm way to screwed up. Last weekend I crashed on my right side, which pulled the muscles in my right arm (I can't pick up a glass of water without causing agony). Now I've crashed on my left side, and done something to my left arm which now hurts more than my right. Weee... Isn't this fun! ;)
All I want to do now is chill here at this hotel, and recover for next week. I don't even want to look at my bike today, let alone fix it up. I'm just to tired since I've gotten about 4 hours of sleep today (came back home at 3am, and had to leave at 7am). Speaking of which.. I think I'm gonna go take a nap...
Yah, a nap sounds good.
David Gluzman
Coming This Weekend
The third race in the Canada Cup National Mountain Bike Series takes place tomorrow (Cross-country) and Sunday (Downhill). Check back in the late afternoon for a report and results from our intrepid man on the spot - Rob Schultz.
The Corestates USPro Championship will be held on Sunday, and there will be three Canadians taking part: Brian Walton (Saturn), Eric Wohlberg (Shaklee) and Matt Anand (Village Peddler)
Dauphine Libere, France
Stage 5, Cavaillon - Digne-les-Bains, 169 km:
1. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 4:06:17
2. Javier Pascual (Spa) Kelme at 0:50
3. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina 1:14
4. Cedric Vasseur (Fra) Gan
5. Eric Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
6. Christian Henn (Ger) Telekom
7. Gerard Rue (Fra) Gan
8. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan
9. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal
10. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto all s.t.
GC
1. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 21:03:41
2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto at 0:49
3. Roland Meier (Sch) Post Swiss 1:49
4. Udo Bolts (Ger) Telekom 1:57
5. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina 2:51
6. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 2:57
7. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal 3:07
8. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis 3:17
9. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once 3:24
10. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal 3:25